Thoughts on College

[Keith Whitener]

Hello AST. I want your thoughts. I was recently accepted into the University of Pennsylvania. I'm interested in double majoring in Philosophy and Creative Writing. It would take me 3 years at a leisurely 4 credits per semester. Penn works on a different system. 32 classes equal a diploma, as opposed to 124 credits. Columbia has a good staff in both disciplines, but the really impressive names tend to stick to graduate courses. Philly's also a less expensive city and an easier city to conquer! As a fake journalist, I already get free passes to Helium Comedy Club and I only need to get cozy with one booking company to get into all the music shows for free. Philly also offers a lot of great writing opportunities. They just have lots of great stuff in general. Also, their humor magazine, The Pennsylvania Punchbowl, seems weak, so if I decided to get involved with that it'd make everything I do look slightly better.

However, it is costly. That's a big however. Maybe it should be in all caps. What are your thoughts on the benefits of simply having a degree from a school like Penn? It also seems like even at Penn I would have large classes for philosophy, although I think if I sit in the front and ask questions it would seem more personable.

What are your thoughts on college in general?

[punkdc]

Wouldn't trade it for the world. I grew up in California and then moved to Iowa to get a degree in Biochemistry and wouldn't change it. Us Bank has great student loans. Make sure to live on campus for at least the first year.

[isoS]

Maybe explain what you're looking to do with your life after school so we can better advise you. Journalist? Comedian? TV writer? Philosopher?

[Keith Whitener]

Maybe explain what you're looking to do with your life after school so we can better advise you. Journalist? Comedian? TV writer? Philosopher?

Good thinking! Right now I'm a sort of entertainment journalist. I also write fiction on the side. I've had pieces published too. Scripts and sketches online and had a list in The Best of McSweeneys Humor edition by Vintage press. I also discovered that I enjoy writing pieces in which I analyze things. So, ideally I would be a writer. I can see myself getting a lot of experience out of Penn, but writing is a hard thing to break into. People with 20 years experience have a hard time finding work. But if I could make enough just to get by writing stories, interviews, articles, commentary, or criticism of some sort I would be fine. I don't expect to be famous or even well off. But since this is a big decision, I thought opening it up to AST would be a good idea since there are many people here who know about what I'm interested in.

And then we could discuss college in general so it's not all about me. Like, man, it's expensive! Or, what's the deal with the food?

[Embiggen]

Entertainment journalism and writing in general seem like disciplines where results matter more than pedigree, don't you think? Will you have more doors open to you in those areas from having Penn on your resume?

I'm not arguing whether you'll learn a lot of very useful things, and have a great time, but just addressing your question about whether having the name Penn on your resume justifies the extra expense.

Also, college is awesome. I wish I could have done more right-brained coursework while I was there.

[MikeHilinski]

I am definitely not seeing this movie. No, thank you.

[Keith Whitener]

That's a good point, Embiggen. I guess what it comes down to is that, regardless of name, it's one of the only schools in the area that has a good program in what I'm interested in. The other schools that offer similar programs are all in NYC and cost just as much.

[Embiggen]

It sounds like you've already made your decision, then. Go forth, young man -- your future awaits!

[floedout]

I'm pro college. Study hard.

[disl]

if you want to have a good day job until the writing really starts paying the bills, then definitely go to college. if you're already getting paid to write and having to find an actual job is not an issue at all, then i don't think college is really necessary. it sounds like you aren't getting paid to write yet, so i would say that you should go to penn and get the great job that goes along with a degree from penn so that you'll be making a ton of money until you start getting paid to write.

[Mindyjoy]

Entertainment journalism and writing in general seem like disciplines where results matter more than pedigree, don't you think? Will you have more doors open to you in those areas from having Penn on your resume?

I agree. Having a college education is important but I think it is secondary to the writing skills you already clearly have. My boyfriend does a lot of freelance writing and he's never gotten a job because someone noticed he has a degree from a certain University; it has all been through making industry contracts.

I'm confused about the "3 years at a leisurely 4 credits per semester" thing. Do you already have a 2-year degree?

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Be true to your school.

[Darryl]

Besides the education, you can get a lot of contacts and networking in college that will pay off all your life. There's nothing wrong with making a conscious effort to meet people and keep their contact info just in case you both may benefit from your relationship later. I'm not saying to use people for your own devices, but make and keep good relationships and you'll have lifelong friends at the very least.

Also, here's something you can try, to make yourself memorable. (I suggested it to my daughter, who's leaving for college on Saturday, but she thinks I'm crazy. I say she's wrong.) Anyway, here's what you do: buy a supply of those glow-stick necklaces. Wear one the first day of school, like it's something you always do. As the day goes on, and the light gets dimmer, talk slower, walk slower, act weaker. At night, when it's nearly dead, look at it an announce that your strength is nearly gone, and you have to rest. The next morning, start with a new one and repeat the process. You tell me, who's crazy? Huh?

[punkdc]

Also, here's something you can try, to make yourself memorable. (I suggested it to my daughter, who's leaving for college on Saturday, but she thinks I'm crazy. I say she's wrong.) Anyway, here's what you do: buy a supply of those glow-stick necklaces. Wear one the first day of school, like it's something you always do. As the day goes on, and the light gets dimmer, talk slower, walk slower, act weaker. At night, when it's nearly dead, look at it an announce that your strength is nearly gone, and you have to rest. The next morning, start with a new one and repeat the process. You tell me, who's crazy? Huh?

Wouldn't be great for freshman, but for when you have friends who understand you I love it.

[BananapeelWilliams]

Wouldn't be great for freshman, but for when you have friends who understand you I love it.

Doesn't that ruin the whole point?

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Also, here's something you can try, to make yourself memorable. (I suggested it to my daughter, who's leaving for college on Saturday, but she thinks I'm crazy. I say she's wrong.) Anyway, here's what you do: buy a supply of those glow-stick necklaces. Wear one the first day of school, like it's something you always do. As the day goes on, and the light gets dimmer, talk slower, walk slower, act weaker. At night, when it's nearly dead, look at it an announce that your strength is nearly gone, and you have to rest. The next morning, start with a new one and repeat the process. You tell me, who's crazy? Huh?

That made me laugh. You're now top Darryl.

[ragu sauce]

that is amazing.

[Darryl]

That made me laugh. You're now top Darryl.

My dream has come true!!!!!!

[Keith Whitener]

I will have an associates degree by the time I go on to whatever 4 year school I go to.

[Jawa]

Besides the education, you can get a lot of contacts and networking in college that will pay off all your life. There's nothing wrong with making a conscious effort to meet people and keep their contact info just in case you both may benefit from your relationship later. I'm not saying to use people for your own devices, but make and keep good relationships and you'll have lifelong friends at the very least.

Also, here's something you can try, to make yourself memorable. (I suggested it to my daughter, who's leaving for college on Saturday, but she thinks I'm crazy. I say she's wrong.) Anyway, here's what you do: buy a supply of those glow-stick necklaces. Wear one the first day of school, like it's something you always do. As the day goes on, and the light gets dimmer, talk slower, walk slower, act weaker. At night, when it's nearly dead, look at it an announce that your strength is nearly gone, and you have to rest. The next morning, start with a new one and repeat the process. You tell me, who's crazy? Huh?

Having asked for thoughts/advice from the AST community, I would say Keith is bound by LAW to do at least Darryl's suggestion.